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    • Marine Sciences

    The Marine Sciences (MARS) curriculum concentrates on the physical and chemical aspects of science of the marine, estuarine, and coastal environment. The coastal location of the Galveston campus enables students to acquire extensive hands-on field experience in addition to a solid base of academic in struction in chemistry, geology, physics, biology, and mathematics. Advanced work centers around four semesters of oceanography. Electives in the junior and senior year allow the student to obtain a broader background in ocean studies or to specialize, usually in the areas of environmental science, geology, or chemistry. The Marine Sciences graduate has a strong, well-rounded foundation in the quantitative physical sciences with considerable field and laboratory experience. With suitably chosen electives, graduates are qualified to enter M.S. or Ph.D. programs in Oceanography or related disciplines, or to move directly into jobs in environmental monitoring, oceanographic instrumentation, pollution control, the offshore oil industry and other fields. Also, students majoring in Marine Sciences can be eligible for a secondary teaching field in Physical Sciences, pending a passing score on the state certification test (ExCET).

    If desired, Marine Sciences majors may pursue the License Option program. The Marine Sciences License Option program allows the Marine Sciences student to prepare for a career as an officer aboard a seagoing vessel by participating in the U.S. Maritime Service Corps of Cadets. The curriculum provides the basics of Marine Sciences as well as courses leading toward licensing as a Third Mate of any gross tonnage upon oceans, steam, or motor vessels, in the U.S. Merchant Marine.

    The Marine Sciences License Option curriculum is an abbreviated version of the Marine Sciences curriculum and is oriented toward field activities consistent with service aboard research vessels. Students who wish to attend a physical science graduate program will need to take additional coursework in science and mathematics.
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    Marketable Skills

    What do you want to do with Marine Sciences?

    Career ideas for Marine Sciences majors:

    Environmental Monitoring, Oceanographic Instrumentation, Pollution Control, Offshore Oil Industry positions

    College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies

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